Lindsey Nelson Stadium,

#1,976
#1,976
vol66 said:
I think the entire conversation revolves around juice, energy, excitement. To an extent winning and playing for something has lots to do with it, but the biggest change, and it gets no mention, it’s not a small stadium anymore. You can’t pick your kid up from school and just go on a whim, walk up to the window on a Tuesday and catch a game, like a movie theatre, anymore.

That said…For years, many years, games weren’t televised, maybe a couple a year… let me put it another way, it was easier to watch Tennessee players in The Alaska Baseball League than it was to actually watch a live stream of a UT Baseball home game. UT eventually caught up. The writing was on the wall by then. Neyland isn’t gonna get bigger. TBA ain’t gonna get bigger. They had to invest in baseball because ESPN owns College Sports. Content. I watch more college baseball now than I did then because I can.

Then there’s tradition. Comparing our baseball fan base to the rabid baseball fan bases like the LSU’s…MSU’s etc…is crazy and anyone who’s been to Hoover will tell the same story. LSU fans don’t go to Hoover, THEY MOVE IN! You can’t upgrade your way to there. Whatever liquid of choice, the student section at Ole Miss is tossing on every home run, their parents, may have, more probable than not, done the same thing. Takes time and one Natty is not a Tradition.

GBO!!!!
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I’ve said it before but the culture the “baseball schools” have is just completely different and built over time as you said. I had a coworker in South GA who was a State alum and he had season tickets. It was like an 8 hr drive but he worked his way to Starkville every other Friday and his sister came over from Jackson, his niece who attended USM would leave Hattiesburg and come up; it was/is the ultimate family reunion built over 40 years. They treat baseball like Bama/UT/UGA does football, it’s an all weekend event, with tailgating, food themes, etc. I went to the series in ‘22 when State was absolutely awful and it was the final series of the year, they came in at 9-18 and completely eliminated from the postseason yet there was still 12K+ for all 3 games. The gates opened 90 minutes before 1st pitch and they were lined up 90 min before that to get the GA seats on the berm. We’re a couple games away from possibly hosting and can’t fill out 8500 seats on a weekend. That would never happen In Starkville, BR, Fayetteville etc.
 
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#1,977
#1,977
AthensVol2007 said:
I’ve said it before but the culture the “baseball schools” have is just completely different and built over time as you said. I had a coworker in South GA who was a State alum and he had season tickets. It was like an 8 hr drive but he worked his way to Starkville every other Friday and his sister came over from Jackson, his niece who attended USM would leave Hattiesburg and come up; it was/is the ultimate family reunion built over 40 years. They treat baseball like Bama/UT/UGA does football, it’s an all weekend event, with tailgating, food themes, etc. I went to the series in ‘22 when State was absolutely awful and it was the final series of the year, they came in at 9-18 and completely eliminated from the postseason yet there was still 12K+ for all 3 games. The gates opened 90 minutes before 1st pitch and they were lined up 90 min before that to get the GA seats on the burn. We’re a couple games away from possibly hosting and can’t fill out 8500 seats on a weekend. That would never happen In Starkville, BR, Fayetteville etc.
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Well stated. Agree completely.

GBO!!!
 
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#1,978
#1,978
AthensVol2007 said:
I’ve said it before but the culture the “baseball schools” have is just completely different and built over time as you said. I had a coworker in South GA who was a State alum and he had season tickets. It was like an 8 hr drive but he worked his way to Starkville every other Friday and his sister came over from Jackson, his niece who attended USM would leave Hattiesburg and come up; it was/is the ultimate family reunion built over 40 years. They treat baseball like Bama/UT/UGA does football, it’s an all weekend event, with tailgating, food themes, etc. I went to the series in ‘22 when State was absolutely awful and it was the final series of the year, they came in at 9-18 and completely eliminated from the postseason yet there was still 12K+ for all 3 games. The gates opened 90 minutes before 1st pitch and they were lined up 90 min before that to get the GA seats on the burn. We’re a couple games away from possibly hosting and can’t fill out 8500 seats on a weekend. That would never happen In Starkville, BR, Fayetteville etc.
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Old money vs new money. Those programs are among the titans and all-time elite of college baseball. It’s like comparing apples and BIG ORANGES. 👍👊🍊😀👊👍💯😀
 
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#1,979
#1,979
taylorvol said:
Old money vs new money. Those programs are among the titans and all-time elite of college baseball. It’s like comparing apples and BIG ORANGES. 👍👊🍊😀👊👍💯😀
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My thing is if you like baseball then go regardless of the season you’re having. The fans who have showed up, don’t really like baseball, they just like saying they were there, but only when it’s cool.
 
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#1,980
#1,980
AthensVol2007 said:
I’ve said it before but the culture the “baseball schools” have is just completely different and built over time as you said. I had a coworker in South GA who was a State alum and he had season tickets. It was like an 8 hr drive but he worked his way to Starkville every other Friday and his sister came over from Jackson, his niece who attended USM would leave Hattiesburg and come up; it was/is the ultimate family reunion built over 40 years. They treat baseball like Bama/UT/UGA does football, it’s an all weekend event, with tailgating, food themes, etc. I went to the series in ‘22 when State was absolutely awful and it was the final series of the year, they came in at 9-18 and completely eliminated from the postseason yet there was still 12K+ for all 3 games. The gates opened 90 minutes before 1st pitch and they were lined up 90 min before that to get the GA seats on the berm. We’re a couple games away from possibly hosting and can’t fill out 8500 seats on a weekend. That would never happen In Starkville, BR, Fayetteville etc.
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Can’t do anything but tip a cap. Must find a way to take pride in your program. They’ve got a few great football years to point to also.
 
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#1,981
#1,981
AthensVol2007 said:
My thing is if you like baseball then go regardless of the season you’re having. The fans who have showed up, don’t really like baseball, they just like saying they were there, but only when it’s cool.
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I still go to random HS and minor league games. Ya spelt beisbol wrong… 😉🤙🏼🧡
 
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#1,982
#1,982
chuckiepoo said:
I still go to random HS and minor league games. Ya spelt beisbol wrong… 😉🤙🏼🧡
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Went and watched my 5th cousin play a HS playoff game last night and the atmosphere was electric. On the mound, he owned the #1 ranked player in AL who’s a projected 1st-2nd pick round this July.
 
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#1,983
#1,983
AthensVol2007 said:
Went and watched my 5th cousin play a HS playoff game last night and the atmosphere was electric. On the mound, he owned the #1 ranked player in AL who’s a projected 1st-2nd pick round this July.
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I love HS baseball. Mikie Teasley done good. ORHS 3-1 victory over Bearden tonight. The playoffs are underway!
 
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#1,984
#1,984
Pawleysvol said:
Move the stadium to different place on campus where you can whatever you want with it.

Also, our fans don’t care enough about baseball to make that type of atmosphere happen

Another side note, guess where all the student sections are at other SEC stadiums? In the outfield.
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If our fans don’t care enough why have we had a fantastic atmosphere in recent years?
 
#1,988
#1,988
Pawleysvol said:
I think as interest grew, baseball games more of a social event to a lot of people rather than a bunch of diehards into every pitch. Even Tony V complained about the crowds multiple times last season.
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As one that considers letting Vitello go one of the worst mistakes in UTAD history, it has to be said that he did have a voice in the design of the new stadium so maybe part of that’s on him.
 
#1,992
#1,992
Pawleysvol said:
Danny literally gave Tony everything he asked for.
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I agree on salary, new $105M stadium, raises for coaching and support staff, and overall material investment into the program. I give Danny a “A” for all of that. Some would argue that’s enough however for many alpha high performers with big egos, it’s not enough. Sometimes soft skills are important in leadership like having a relationship with your subordinates and letting them know they are valued and appreciated.

Candidly, CTV needed to feel the love. Danny White made zero effort to reach out to CTV and inquire what he could do to convince him to stay and reiterate how important he was to UT. That would have required Danny to swallow his ego and pride and engage with a subordinate that he personally didn’t like. Danny delegated oversight of baseball to a direct report. Danny was not sad to see CTV go. That dynamic made CTV’s decision very easy (and I’m not saying anything could have convinced him to stay as the Giants job was a chance in a lifetime). 2 things can be true at the same time.
 
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#1,993
#1,993
Pawleysvol said:
Danny literally gave Tony everything he asked for.
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This is the assumption that everything can be boiled down to dollars. Not everything can be measured in money. You’re literally being a good little Danny Dimes minion to say such things. Tony leaving had NOTHING to with his salary. I’m not even saying Danny was THE reason, but if anyone thinks that there wasn’t tension, they aren’t listening. Chris Lowe doesn’t just arbitrarily report that stuff. When the door is opened a crack, it’s a lot easier to push it open.

As seen by the entertainment district, Danny will build **** even when completely unnecessary. If you think that stadium was about Danny giving Tony something, you’re crazy. It doesn’t take a genius to pay him. It didn’t take a genius to see the long overdue need to upgrade the stadium. In true Danny fashion he built it with more areas that are off limits to the common fan. Hell, 80% of the improvements were to further displace common fans, and move the uppity ups out of the smell of the peasants.

It doesn’t matter, you aren’t going to believe that there was a path to Tony staying. There absolutely was, and Danny White was 100% a contributor in that not happening.
 
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#1,994
#1,994
fryeguy93 said:
Don't get me wrong, I love home midweek games but I miss the midweek games in Johnson City and Cookeville. The athletic department has to pay for the stadium and staff but it's a shame we can't help "grow the game" at in-state schools.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Saw this ^^^ in the RPI thread and thought it belonged over here-

Speaking of paying for stadium and staff... random thing I overheard at the game last night...They told the ushers they're planning on reducing the usher group by 1/3 next year at LNS because of this year's "light" crowds.

Sounds like something they'd do....
 
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